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Bly has nice return to Denver

DENVER — Many in the crowd came hoping to get a glimpse of the future in Tim Tebow and instead got a peek at the past.

Cornerback Dre’ Bly’s 47-yard interception return set up Detroit’s first touchdown in the Lions’ 25-20 win over the Denver Broncos on Saturday night.

Bly, who played two seasons in Denver before his unceremonious release following coach Josh McDaniels’ hiring in 2009, picked off a pass against the Broncos for the second straight preseason — he did it while with the San Francisco 49ers last year.

“I’m not worried about that. I know what I can do. I’ve been doing it my whole life,” said Bly, who hauled in a pass bobbled by Broncos running back Lance Ball at the Detroit 26 and raced up the Broncos’ sideline to the Denver 27, where he was finally corralled by tight end Riar Geer.

“It was a deflected pass. He dropped the ball and whenever the ball is around me, I go get it,” Bly said. “I’m just sad I couldn’t score.”

Detroit third-stringer Drew Stanton’s 25-yard touchdown on a quarterback draw with 1:53 left was the difference. Brady Quinn drove the Broncos into Lions territory in the closing seconds before Willie Young stripped the ball away and Korey Bosworth recovered.

Tebow’s home debut will have to wait at least another week. He sat out with bruised ribs he suffered in the exhibition opener a week ago, much to the disappointment of throngs of Broncos fans donning his No. 15 jersey at Invesco Field.

Tebow missed most of the Broncos’ practices during the week, undoubtedly contributing to the nearly 8,000 unused tickets Saturday night.